Switch structure



R. PENN 2,434,954

SWITCH STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 16, 1945 Patented Jen. 27,1943

swrron sraoc'mnn f v Ralph Penn, Goshen, Ind., assigner to Penn Elec` ttrio Switch Co.. Goshen, Ind., a corporation of Iowa Appueanen neeember1s, 1943, serien Ne. '514,4s1 Q i n claim.. (ci. zoo-s) Mypresent'invention relates to a switch structure which is in the form ofa relatively small unit and which is so designed as to minimize thepossibility of vibration causing the switch to operate at undesirabletimes. l

One object of the invention is to provide a switch structure of unittype vwhich is comparatively simple andl inexpensive from a,manufacturing standpoint, and can be interchangeably mounted adjacent anactuator.

Another object is to provide a switch structure capable of emcientmanufacture in very small sizes with a maximum amount of accuracy inoperation, wherein pigtail and pivot connections are eliminated, theswitch arm being mounted for swinging movement on a leaf spring.

Another object is to provide an inexpensive asfsembly for mounting theleaf spring on a base, and a switch arm on the leaf spring with theswitch arm being so designed as to substantially balance on oppositelsides of the leaf spring, thereby minimizing any tendency for theswitch therein and adjacent this socket a'pair oi.''similar` terminalstraps i2 are mounted' as'by screws extending upwardly vthroughthefQbaSej diff',I threaded into the straps. l 'Y The base is molded toform grooves I 4 which y lv snugly receive the terminal straps andtheternrii-l nal straps are provided with 'downeturned lil,eliges i5located in the socket I0. A leaf1springly l8,is1

supported by the 'flanges ls, oneiewerA jend 'ojztnejf to operate eitherone way or the other when jarred or subjected to vibration.

A further object is to provide a switch structure particularly adaptedfor operation on an airplane such as for a reversing motor of a cowl apcontrol of the kind shown in my copending appication, Serial No.523,839, filed February 25. l 44.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction. arrange- -ment and combination of the various. parts oi myswitch structure whereby the objects con` templated are attained, ashereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illus-Atrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan viewof a switch structure embodying my invention, the cover thereof beingremoved. Y

Figure 2 is a similar view showing a section just below the switch armand the leaf spring for mounting the switch arm shown in cross section.Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-2 of Figure 1 with the coverin place on the base and showing the switch in one position.

Figure 4 is a similar v"sectional view showing the switch in anotherposition.

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views on .the e 5-5, 8-6 and 1-1respectively of Figure 3. On the accompanying drawings, I have used thereference character B to indicate a base and C the cover therefor. Theelements B and C are preferably made ot insulating material, such asBakelite or the like. The base B has a socket i0 Another'pair ofterminal straps 2la`.re.receiyed f from, yauxiliary movablecontacts 35and 3.6. :The

and spring secured together,'aslbyafpairogof rivets I1. I V, The leafspring thereby extendsA pwardlyfrorn the base. lA switch armjA ismounte'don ,t e, y* upper end of the spring. kThe switch' yarm,Acomprises a pair of arm members i8` having upstaride ing flangesI9' adjacent each othe.,}'l hel`upper end of the leaf spring I6 isreceived b etweenthe anges I9 and the switch arm .and spring are .reftained assembled relative to each other Aby a.,A ofrivets 20. 1 .i n yMounted in diagonally opposite grooves 2l of the base B, are terminalstraps 2'2A,setici-eti.s in position by other screws I3. Theterminalstraps' l2 and 22 are split at their .endsjasfindicated at. 23, andsupport stationary contacts Manci 2o,

leaf spring being between them' andthe.ilangesf` in grooves 2l of thebase Beas byscrews. i3, and. are likewise split at 23, the-splithendsvhaving stationary contacts 28 and 29 y`vvadju stahly threaded therein.The terminal straps I2, 22,-and 28 are all provided withU-shapedclipends lfin which the circuit controlling wiresfrnay,il besoldered. o A 11,

The switch arnrA 'carries at its.r outer ends movable contacts I2 and 3land inwardly; there-ffH contacts 35 and are carried by leafsprings-fl.,

secured as by rivets, to tvhe-arxrnsections .18.' The springs 31 are`under tension,sothatjtheir outer ends Aare engaged with the arms as:shown in the leit-hand-.half of Figure 3.;. .The switchf arms areprovided with enlarged. openings: 39 to clearthe contacts 3B and 36. fel The cover C is adaptedl to be heldv-iniplaceiby;f screws 40 whichextend through boththe cover' and the base and then into a supportingstructure* as shown in my co--pending applicationsy The4 base B isprovided with a socketlizin whichaa f f y return spring 42 is mounted.The returnf'spring tends to rotate the switch arm Arin 1.a'.clockv'vise"directionin Figure 3. For actuating the switch arlniri'a:y counter'clockwise direction, an actuating''pin'flv isslid-f able in an openingoi' the base,`.an"d asa head Il for engaging the switch arm when the pinis pushed inwardly. A second head I preferably of insulating material ismounted on the pin for engagement, by an actuating device of any kind.For stopping counter-clockwise movement of the switch arm, I provide astop bracket 41 secured as by a screw 4l in a groove I! of the base B.

, Practica! operation In the operation of my switch structure, theswitch arm A normally assumes the position shown in Figure 3 due to thebias of the spring 42. When the actuating pin Il is pushed inwardly, itwill engage the switch arm and then start it moving in acounter-clockwise direction as shown in Figure 4. First a circuit willbe opened at contacts '2l and 34 as shown in this figure, and then acircuit will be opened across l! and Il. Next a circuit is closed at2I--35 and nally at 2I-32. The' two ends of the switch arm therebyoperate relay and holding circuits in the manner shown in lmy copendingapplication.

Upon release of the pin I3, the spring l! will operate the switch arm ina return direction until it finally assumes the position of Figure 3,thus completing a cycle of operations.

My switch structure is particularly adapted for trouble-free operationwhere vibration is imparted to the switch, the switch arm A, however'`being unaffected by such vibrations. This is due to both ends of theswitch arms being equal in weight, mass and shape, and thus balanced sothat vibration tending to move the arm bodily in either direction willact equally on both ends and thereby eliminate the possibility ofmovement being imparted to the switch arm due to such vibration. This isparticular-y desirable where cowl flap motors are controlled, and it isundesirable to alternately energize and de-energize them due tochattering contacts. Furthermore, direct current of low voltage and highamperage is usually used, and such chattering would quickly destroy theusefulness of the contacts, whereas a switch of the kind I disclose maypass through many operating cycles without appreciable harm being doneto the contacts.

The switch structure is so designed that a minimum of materials andassembly labor are required to fabricate it and to propery adjust itafter fabrication. After the adjustments are made, seals of wax or thelike I1 may -be applied to the contacts 2l, 25. 28 and 2S as shown inFigure 3. The cover C may be readily removed at any time withoutdisturbing the actuating pin Il which is carried by the base vB and thusthe switch is a complete unit so that its operation can be checked whenthe cover is removed.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose ofmy invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modifiedforms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may bereasonably included within their` scope without sacrificing any of theadvantages thereof.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a switch structure, a base, a leaf spring opstanding therefrom, aswitch arm supported intermediate its ends on said leaf spring,extending substantially parallel to said base and having portions ofsubstantial y equal mass and shape on opposite sides of the point ofsupport, a pair of stationary contacts on said base on each side of saidleaf spring, movable contacts 4 on the outer ends of said switch arm forcoaction with the outer two of said stationary contacts, auxiliarymovable contacts on said switch arms spaced inwardly from said firstmovable contacts g for coaction with the inner two of said stationarycontacts, a return spring between said base and said switch arm on oneside of said leaf spring, and an actuating pin slidably mounted on saidbase and engageable with said switch arm on the opposite side of saidleaf spring from said return spring.

2. In a switch structure, a base. a leaf spring upstanding therefrom, aswitch supported intermediate its ends on said leaf spring, extendingsubstantially parallel to said base and having portions of substantialyequal mass and shape on opposite sides of the point of support, astationary contact on said base on each side of said leaf spring,movable contacts on said switch arm for coaction with said stationarycontacts, a return spring between said base and said switch arm on oneside of said leaf spring, and an actuating pin slidably mounted in saidbase and engageable with said switch arm on the opposite side of saidleaf spring from said return spring.

3. In a switch structure, a base, a leaf spring upstanding therefrom, aswitch arm supported intermediate its ends on said leaf spring, said armhaving two portions whose centers of gravity are substantially equallyspaced from said point of support, said portions being of substantiallythe same weight, a stationary contact on said base on each side of saidleaf spring, movable contacts on said switch arm for coaction with saidstationary contacts, a return spring for said switch arm, and anactuating pin engageable with said switch arm to move it in oppositionto said return spring.

4. In a switch structure, a base, a leafvspring upstanding therefrom, aswitch arm supported intermediate its ends on said leaf spring andextending substantiaily parallel to said base, a pair of stationarycontacts on said base on opposite .sides of said leaf spring, contactson said switch arm for alternate coaction with said stationary contacts,a return spring for said switch arm, and an actuating element engageablewith said switch arm in opposition to said return spring for actuatingthe switch.

5. In a switch structure, a base, a leaf spring upstanding therefrom, aswitch arm supported intermediate its ends on said leaf spring, astationary contact on said base, a movable contact on said switch armfor coaction with said stationary contact, a return spring for saidswitch arm on one side of said leaf spring, and an actuating elementengageable with said switch arm in opposition tosaid return spring.

6. A switch structure comprising a base, a pair a0 of brackets securedto said base and having downturned adjacent portions countersunk in saidbase, a leaf spring between said down-turned portions, means forsecuring said portions together with said leaf spring between them,whereby the leaf spring extends upwardly from said base, a switch armcomprising a pair of arm portions having adjacent flanges at their ends,means for securing said flanges together with said leaf spring betweenthem whereby the switch arm is mounted for rocking movement relative tosaid base, stationary contacts on said base, movable contacts on saidswitch arm, means urging said switch arm to swing in one direction aboutits connection to said leaf spring as a pivot. and an 7l actuating pinslidably mounted in said base and engageable with said switch arm toswing it in kthe opposite direction.

7. A switch structure comprising a base, a pair of brackets secured tosaid base and having ad- A jacent portions, a leaf spring securedbetween said portions, said leaf spring extending away from said base, aswitch arm comprising two parts having'adjacent portions intermediatethe ends of the switch arm, said leaf spring being secured between saidlast portions for swinging movement of the switch arm with the bendingof the spring, a stationary contact on said base, a movable contact onsaid switch arm, and means to swing said switch arm.

8. A switch structure comprising a base. a pair of brackets secured tosaid base and havingdownarm portions having adjacent flanges at their 30ends extending away from said base, said anges being riveted togetherwith said leaf spring between them whereby the switch arm is mounted forrocking movement in close proximity to said base, a stationary contacton said base, a movable contact on said switch arm, and actuating meansengageable with said switch arm to eiect such rocking movement.

10. A switch structure comprising a base, a pair oi' brackets secured tosaid base and having downturned adjacent portions countersunk in saidbase, a leaf spring between said down-turned portions, means forsecuring said portions together with said leaf spring between them,whereby the leaf spring extends upwardly from said base, a switch armcomprising a pair of arm portions having adjacent flanges at their ends,means for securing said ilanges together with said leaf spring betweenthem, whereby the switch arm is mounted for rocking movement relative tosaid base, terminal straps on said base, stationary consnugly receivesaid terminal straps, screws upwardly through said base for retainingsaid straps in assembled position in said grooves, said stationarycontacts being threaded in said straps, the straps being slotted topermit frictional engagement of the straps with the screws.

i1. In a switch structure, a base, a leaf sprinl extending upwardly fromsaid base, a switch arm mounted thereon for rocking movement relative tosaid base, terminal straps on said base, stationary contacts mountedtherein, said base being grooved to snugly receive said terminal straps,screws upwardly through said base for retaining said straps inlassembledposition in said grooves, said stationary contacts being threaded insaid straps. the straps being slotted to permit' frictional engagementof the straps with the screws. and movable contacts for coaction withsaid stationary contacts.

RALPH PENN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi' record in the ille ofthis patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,477,834 Leddick Dec. 18, 19230 FOREIGN PATENTS v Number Country Date 345,595 Germany Dec. 15, 1921tacts mounted therein, said base being grooved to l

